New Jersey Casino Referendum (2016)

New Jersey is one of the major states that permit casino gambling, even if it pales in comparison to Nevada. Atlantic City has served as the gambling hub on the East Coast for quite a while, but there are was a time when its future was threatened. Back in 2016, New Jersey considered breaking the Atlantic City monopoly on casino gaming in order to expand the number of casino establishments. It was up to the people of New Jersey to determine the future of the state’s gambling industry. This led to the New Jersey Casino Referendum of 2016 and the interesting information that came to light as a result of it.

In this article, you will read all about the New Jersey casino vote of 2016 and the events surrounding it. We go into detail about multiple factors, including the state of NJ gambling and how the amendment would affect the status quo.

New Jersey Casino Vote – New Venues or Not

As we have already mentioned, New Jersey is a hotbed for casino gambling. However, all of it is centred in Atlantic City. In 1976, the state gave exclusive rights to the city to allow gambling within its limits. This caused Atlantic City to become the de facto casino capital in the Eastern US. Since then, eight casinos have opened up and are regulated by the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, bringing in billions in revenue each year. Doubtless, the Atlantic City casinos have been a major source of tax revenue for the state. However, that status became threatened with the New Jersey casino vote of 2016.

In 2016, the state considered expanding the gambling industry outside of Atlantic City. Based on the propositions, two counties would be given the opportunity to open a single casino each. Both counties were in Northern New Jersey, whereas Atlantic City is in the southern part. Each of the casinos was to receive an investment of at least $1 billion from prospective companies. The scope of the proposition was massive, and it would have a significant impact on the gambling scene in New Jersey if it became law.

Response to the Proposal

The initial response towards this suggestion was mixed, to say the least. Atlantic City casinos were staunchly against it. It was argued that some of the established venues would not be able to sustain their business if part of it was redirected to North Jersey. Casino workers also took a stand against the proposal, with the Union president making an official statement, in which he asked for the industry “to be left alone”.

Atlantic City casinos are a major draw for tourists and if customers were to go somewhere else, other industries would be affected, as well. This point was brought up by then-Atlantic City mayor Don Guardian. Others criticised the notion of opening new casinos, arguing that the market was saturated as it was.

Of course, not all reactions were negative. North Jersey residents were happy to have a new source of tax revenue and business coming their way. There we even political campaigns to support the amendment, though these were short-lived.

North Jersey Casino Vote – Up to the People

Ultimately, the decision was laid in the hands of New Jersey residents. A referendum held place in November 2016 and the ballot question was the following:

Do you approve amending the Constitution to permit casino gambling in two additional counties in this State? At present, casino gambling is allowed only in Atlantic City in Atlantic County. Only one casino in each of the two counties would be permitted. Each casino is to be located in a town that is at least 72 miles from Atlantic City. The amendment would allow certain persons to apply first for a casino license.

Voters could either support or reject the notion. More than 3 million residents turned out for the North Jersey casino vote. Of those, 77.24% or approximately 2.4 million rejected the proposal. Only 22.76% or approximately 707,000 people voted in favour of it. When all was said and done, the amendment was turned down, and Atlantic City got to keep its monopoly on casino gaming.

It seems that the land-based casino scene will not be expanding in the near future. However, online casinos in New Jersey are going strong. If you are interested, you can read more about this in our New Jersey Online Casino Guide.